Disconnecting electrical switch.



D. G. HOOKER.

DISCO E TING ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

AP ATION FILED 001227, 1911.

1,039,129, Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

DUNCAN C, HOOKER, OF FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHNS-PRATT COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

DISCONNECTING ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Loaoaeo.

fipecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Application filed October 27, 1911. Serial No. 657,195.

is a specification.

This invention relates to a disconnecting electrical line switch, or switch of the ty e which has the movable conductor complete removed when the circuit is opened. Thes switches are particularly adapted fdr heavily charged lines of lighting and power systems. The switch illustrated and described herein is especially designed to be operated in a manhole box of an underground line carrying a current of several hundred amperes and a number of thousand volts. Such currents are dangerous to human life and consequently to prevent accidental contact with and short circuit be tween live parts and eliminate danger for the operator, the switch conductor is arranged to be connected and disconnected by means of a long handle made of insulating material, which is detached after the movable conductor has been manipulated.

The object of the resent invention is to provide a disconnec ing switch with very simple, chea and easily and safely operated means or inserting and removing the switch conductor.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a plan of a disconnecting switch constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 shows aside elevation of the same. Fig.

3 shows a transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 33 on F i 2;

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section 0 the parts illustrating the switch conductor and The base 1 of the switch is desirably made 7 of a block of marble or slate, although it can be made of any other suitable insulating. material. Secured to the face of the base near the ends are split clamping sleeves 2 for receiving the ends of the line wire.

Screws 3 are provided for causing the split I sleeves to clamp the wire ends. These sleeves have lugs 4 which are fastened to the preferred manner of securing the lugs and the spring clips together and to the base is by means of screws 6 which "pass through the base and the bottom of the clips and the lugs. Extending through one pair of spring clips is a pivot 7. This pivot is desirably a flattened "pin held in such manner that it cannot rotate.

Near one endthe switch blade 8 has a circular perforation 9, and opening through the end of the blade into this perforation is a tapering slot 10, the narrowest part of which slot is only as wide as the smaller diameter of the pivot pin 7. This end of the switch blade is, pivotally connected by forcing it longitudinally between the spring clip with the pivot pin until the pin is 111 the perforation, and then after the blade has been turned on the pivot pin it will not become disengaged. The pivot pin and slotthat the blade can be attached and detached only when it is at right angles to thebase.

A pair of plates 11 are fastened to the blade near the swinging end, and loosely held between these plates by a pivot pin 12 is a lug 13. The pivotal slot 14 through this lug is oblong so that the lug may slide as well as turn on the pivot. Fastened on the end of this lug is a tube 15 of insulating -material, and in the end of the lug that is in the tube is a threaded socket 16. If the lug is in such position that the pivot passes through the outer end of the slot, the tube can be freely oscillated. When the lug is pushed so that the pivot passes through the inner end of the slot, the tube cannot be the blade. The operating handle 17, which is of considerable length, is desirably made of a long bar of wood. At the end of this bar is a screw stud 18. The stud end of the handle is of such size that it may be thrust into the tube, and the stud screwed into the socket in the inner end of the lug.

When the blade is to be connected, the handle is inserted into the tubeand the stud screwed into the .socket in the 111 The handle and tube are then forced orward and the lug slid parallel with the blade until the pivot pin lies in the inner, end of the slot in the lug. As shown by the full lines bottom of the terminal spring clips 5. A

are so designed -in the switch illustrated oscillated-it becomes rigid with relation to in Fig. 4, the parts are then in such position the blade is thrust at right angles to the base upon the pivot pin that extends between one pair of the terminal clips. The blade is then turned by means of the handle, and as soon as'turned, the blade cannot be drawn from the pivot pin. Then the handle is pulled back until the lug, is free to oscillate, after which the free end of the blade is forced down by the handle between the other pair of terminal clips, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. VVhen-the blade is connected with the clips and the circuit is completed, the wooden handle is unscrewed and removed from .the tube and the tube turned down to the Position shown in Fig.

2. :In order to remove the blade, the wooden handle is thrust into the tube and the stud screwed into the lug, then by pulling the handle the blade is swung on the pivot pin and the free end disconnected from its clip.

After the blade has been swung open 90 degrees, the slotted end of the blade is withdrawn from between its clip, the pivot pin permitting this when the blade is in this position.

With this construction, a longand safeoperating handle is easily and quickly at-I .tached to or detached from the short insulated handle which is connected with the contact blade, and the handle is readily manipulated so that it may hin as the blade swings, or may be made rigid with the blade as is necessary for properly and safely connecting the pivoted end of theblade with its clip.

Theinvention claimed is: 1. The combination in a disconnectin switch, of conducting line terminals, a,con

ductor adapted to be engaged with and electrically connect said terminals, also to be. removed from and electrically disconnect said terminals, an insulating handle for with relation to the conductor, and when in another adjustment causing a rigid connection of the 'handle to the conductor.

2. The combination in a disconnecting switch, of conducting line terminals, a blade adapted to connectthe terminals, said blade being removably pivoted to one terminal a and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with the other terminal, an insulating handle, and means adjustably eonnecting the handle and the blade, said means when 111 one relation permitting free oscillation of the handle, and whenin another relation rigidly connecting the handle and the blade.

3. In a switch in combination, conducting terminals, a conductor adapted to be engaged with and electrically connect said terminals, an insulating handle, and a pin and slot connection between said handle and the conductor, said slot being so arranged as to permit longitudinal movement of the handle ,with relation to the conductor, and when the parts are in one relation permit independent oscillations of the handle and conductor, and when the parts are in another relation, hold the handle rigid against oscillation independently of the conductor.

4. In a switch in combination, conducting terminals, a conductor pivoted to one-terminal and detachable therefrom when in one position, and an insulating handle pivotally ductor rigidly' united, and when in another position allowing the handle to swing freely on the pivotal connection.

5. In a switch in combination, conducting terminals, a conductor pivoted to one terminaland detachable-therefrom when in one position, an insulating tube pivoted to the conductor and adapted to swing the free end thereof. into and out of engagement with the other terminal, said tube being movable longitudinallyon its pivot and when in one position bein rigid with the conductor, and

when in anot er'position being free to swing on the pivot, and a handle detachably attached to said tube.

DUNCAN c. HOOKER.

Witnesses 1 JOSEPHINE M. smm'm, H. WILLIAMS. 

